Updated 9:17 pm, Friday, January 4, 2013

This emerald green color swatch released by Pantone is Pantone LLC's Color of the Year for 2013, beating out all the other shades of the rainbow. (AP Photo/Pantone)

This emerald green color swatch released by Pantone is Pantone LLC's Color of the Year for 2013, beating out all the other shades of the rainbow. (AP Photo/Pantone)

Photo: Associated Press

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FILE - This Sept. 12, 2012 file photo shows fashion from the Spring 2013 collection of Nanette Lepore in New York. The rich, vibrant shade of emerald green is Pantone LLC's Color of the Year for 2013, beating out all the other shades of the rainbow. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, file)

FILE - This Sept. 12, 2012 file photo shows fashion from the Spring 2013 collection of Nanette Lepore in New York. The rich, vibrant shade of emerald green is Pantone LLC's Color of the Year for 2013, beating

This product image released by Pantone LLC shows a Tiffany emerald and diamond ring. The rich, vibrant shade of emerald green is Pantone LLC's Color of the Year for 2013, beating out all the other shades of the rainbow. (AP Photo/Pantone LLC)

This product image released by Pantone LLC shows a Tiffany emerald and diamond ring. The rich, vibrant shade of emerald green is Pantone LLC's Color of the Year for 2013, beating out all the other shades of the

Avocado, the fruit and not the dated appliances, is another good green.

Avocado, the fruit and not the dated appliances, is another good green.

Photo: ANDRE J. JACKSON, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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Green in '13

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Drought be darned and fiscal cliff be forgotten, 2013 is going to be abundantly green. The prognosticators at the Pantone Color Institute spun their color wheel and picked emerald green as the year's happening hue.

Emerald, a vivid, verdant green with a tinge of blue, enhances one's sense of well-being and promotes balance and harmony, says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It's the color of prosperity,” she adds.

Pass the emerald crayon, please.

“Green is the most abundant hue in nature — the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” she says. We're likely to see more of Mother Nature's favorite shade in both home interiors and fashion.

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At the fall home furnishings market in High Point, N.C., green showed up in many collections, from small accent splashes to waves that predominated showrooms.

“Green in a variety of shades is timeless,” said Holly Blaylock, vice president of merchandising at C.R. Laine. “Whether playful or preppy, green retains the sensibility of a classic.”

Green in every shade — pine, spruce, teal, citrine and emerald — was the overwhelming color story in the current fall collections, says Ken Downing, fashion director at Neiman Marcus.

“Green is super chic when worn with navy, which is the fall's all-important neutral,” he says. O'Neill says spring's green will look stunning when paired with gold or platinum.

Downing sees more blues — from cobalt to aqua — paired with green for spring. At the opposite end of the color spectrum, he predicts orange also will come on strong.

Shannon Davenport, fashion editor at New York's Stylesight trend forecasting firm, says she anticipates that spring, typically a season when designers embrace color, “an influx of bright, midtone greens such as kelly green and colors inspired by grass and leaves.”

She says bright blue, orange and pink look terrific when teamed with vibrant greens. And accessories from footwear to eyewear “look fresh for the season in emerald hues.”

“We're in the midst of a very color-enthusiastic moment in fashion — and mixing shades within a single look is what it's all about.”

On the home front, greens freshen warm neutrals and bring vibrance to contemporary settings. Also look for layered shades of green, from earthy shades borrowed from nature to the jewel-like emerald.

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13 WAYS WE LOVE GREEN

Our planet: Reduce, reuse and recycle is always in vogue.

Kermit: Miss Piggy knows best.

On Liz: Richard Burton knew how to woo a woman.

Avocado: Sliced and in guacamole, but not on appliances, please.

Envy: Go ahead, make 'em a little jealous.

Emerald Isle: Erin go bragh.

Kale: Good and good for you.

Green Goddess: We'll bet the ranch (dressing) on it.

Emerald City: Follow the yellow brick road.

Gruene Hall: It's a Texas thang.

Jolly Green Giant: Not the first jolly guy to say ho, ho, ho, but he's still cool.

"Green Acres": It's the place to be.

Grass: We hear it's gorgeously green after that thing called rain.

“(Green) is a color with no boundaries and presents in a fresh new way when multiple hues are layered together,” Blaylock says.